Coronado Springs Resort Update – It’s Going To Be A Grand Time!

Grab the scissors, it’s almost tape cutting time! We’re in the final countdown to the opening of the Gran Destino Tower at the Coronado Springs Resort. Less than two months from now guests will be walking into the largest non-Disney Vacation Club Resort expansion at Walt Disney World. As the opening day draws near we’ve uncovered more information about the Gran Destino Tower and what we should expect in the updated Coronado Springs Resort. Putting on your favorite walking shoes, we’re going exploring!

Club Level at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

New Club Level Concept

Club level at Walt Disney World is nothing new. Traditionally reserved for the Disney Deluxe Hotels like the Boardwalk Resort, club level provides additional amenities to guests that include but are not limited to breakfast, afternoon snacks, cocktails, etc. At the deluxe resorts the club level is usually the top floor and only accessible by guests staying in the associated rooms.

The Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Disney will be trying out a new concept for club level. The club level amenities will not tied to certain floors, but instead tied to individual rooms. Club level guest’s rooms could be spread throughout the tower. Instead of having a dedicated floor, the Gran Destino Tower will have an area for club level guests called, The Chronos Club. According to Jim Hill, of Jim Hill Media ,Disney is testing this concept due to the unknown level of demand for club level at the tower. In Disney World terms the Coronado Springs Resort is considered a moderate resort. This is the first time Disney World is offering club level at a moderate resort.

Guests will have a variety of rooms to choose from that will include club level. The room options will be; Tower – Stand View, Tower – Suite, Tower – One Bedroom Suite, Tower – Presidential Suite. Club level at Coronado Springs will only be available in the Gran Destino Tower.

Passholder Insights: The Gran Destino Tower club level rooms will be the most reasonably priced club level rooms at Disney World.

Concept Art for Three Bridges Bar and Grill

Three Bridges Bar and Grill

In the center of the Coronado Springs Resort is Lago Dorado (lake). As part of the resorts update a brand new restaurant has been added called Three Bridges Bar and Grill. The restaurant will be a quick serve location serving up a variety of lite bites, sandwiches, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Guests can choose to either sit inside or on the shaded patio overlooking the lake.

Additionally, what is unknown is if Disney will use the fast casual model for the dining location or if it will be a traditional quick service model (counter service). We could see Disney using a similar concept for service as they do at the Wilderness Lodge Resortfor Geyser Point where servers bring your food.

What’s unique about the new dining location is the group dining area attached to the restaurant. The group dining space is similar to the private dining area we see at restaurants for events or parties. This makes a lot sense, as the expansion to the Coronado Springs Resort is focused around creating more conference space.

Passholder Insights: A top the Gran Destino Tower will be the signature resort Toledo. The restaurant will have firework views for both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Our Thoughts

It’s exciting to see Disney break the mould with its resorts and try new ways to offer more amenities at the moderate resorts. If the Coronado Springs update is a success we could see Disney use similar concepts for new resorts like Disney Riviera Resort or bring new offerings and amenities to the other moderate options. We’ll only have to wait a few more months to find out. Let’s getting packing, soon we’ll be checking in to the Gran Destino!